Years ago, I worked for a USAF Colonel named Scott Atkins. He would tell me frequently that, “If 25% of your decisions aren’t wrong, you simply aren’t making enough decisions.”
Action — well thought, purposeful action — must always be rewarded over inaction.
Regarding action and failure, I always remember a couple of things:
Well, is it??
A company needs human resources (people, talent, etc.) to survive. It does not, necessarily, need Human Resources (the department). The challenge for HR, then, is to become the real expert and leader in those things positively impacting the organization’s human capital — creating value, improving productivity, increasing returns, etc.
If HR’s sole claim to fame is compliance, they’ll generally be seen as a barrier, and can be replaced by a $50 CD. Equally, if they simply act as a broker of others’ efforts (vendors, consultants, outsourcers, etc.), this adds minimal value.
Well, me, of course…
OK, seriously… had a colleague recently ask me how to determine which consultant or firm is “best” for a particular organization’s needs. Though much of this may be common sense, there are some specifics of which you should be mindful. (more…)
Mi dos centavos (that’s “my two cents” for you non-Hispanic learned northerners…):
If only a shred of this thinking could catch on…
Yes, the economy is volatile right now; but clients and customers are still in need, money is still available, and many goods and services may – if framed correctly – be more valuable than ever before.
For those bold and determined, this is “our time to shine,” not “our time to hunker down and hope for bread crumbs.” Never let ourselves kid each other that there’s no business out there right now.
I recently had a discussion with a client about “merit” pay increases. Never mind the current concerns over giving ANY pay increases; we were discussing how to divvy up the dollars. She asked me how, if we budget for across-the-board adjustments, do we also recognize performance…? (more…)
I was recently asked about the types of manipulation that I see occurring in leaders. At first, I was puzzled why I couldn’t come up with an immediate, pithy reply (my norm), and then it dawned on me…
The base premise is flawed.
Leadership is not manipulation, and anyone who resorts to same — even the “positive spin” version — is not leading. They are manipulating, or at best, managing (controlling).
Leadership — true leadership — is forward-looking and visionary. It sets a path, a course, and creates meaningful ways to accomplish the journey. (more…)
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